Process of making aluminum nitrid and other chemical substances



w. HOOPES. PROCESS OF MAKING ALUMINUM NITRID AND OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19; WW.

Patented 0% 1L 1921..

5 SHEETS-SHEET i.

W. HUOPES.

PROCESS OF MAKING ALUMINUM NITRID AND OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1919.

l wa wm Patented Oct. 11, ML

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MZMMEM fimww@@,

W. HOOPES.

PROCESS OF MAKING ALUMINUM NITRID AND OTHER CHEMtCAL SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION F|LE[).SEPT.19, 1919.

Lam 'mu Patented. 001;. 11, mm.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3- W. H 'OOPES. PROCESS OF MAKING ALUNIlNUM NITRID AND OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES. APPLKIATION FILED SEPT-. [9, I919.

1 39mm Q Patented We. 19:21.

5 SHEETS"1 7 4 W. HOOPES.

PROCESS OF MAKING ALUMINUM NITRID AND OTHER CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES. 7 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. '19, 19l9. Y

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mourns, E E'I'lTfifilWlEtGiH, FENN'SYLVANIA, ASSIGhIOll- Tl.) ALUMINUM UTE AMERKCAL,0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, CORQPQRATION reissues earanrtrno nt'uinrnnnr nrrntn nun oar-ran cnnnrcar. snnsran'ons:

To all wkom it may concern. Be it known that L VVILLIAM' Hoorns', a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the' county of t Allegheny and fi tate of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Processes of Y I Makiny cal Su 3 v scriptlon, in connection with the accompany- Aluminum Nitrid and other Chemistahcea; of which. the following deing dra-wings m a specification, like charao are onthe drawings representing like parts.

'l 'h'isinvention relates to processes involvlarlyto those involving chemical reactions lQQliLZWQEH- SOl'Id and gaseous bodles.

din-pract1sing processes of the general character described-the solidbodies that are *to takepart 'in"the-reaction are usually "mined to form a charge and the gas is caused till I to act upon-the latter.

In proceeding 3H1 lfoundthatin order successfully to practise processes of-this land t isnecessary to realize certain conditions particularly if the t process is to prove a commercial success.

both-solid and gaseous, which are to take partin the reaction, shall all come into intii mate'contact with each other throughout the ll entirecharge, and to this end it is necessary that the bodies both solid and gaseous be as evenly distributed as practicable throughout the latter. Furthermore, Where heat is absorbed by the reaction, another condition is i it that the heat be supplied or'distributed at the reaction temperature throughout the mass and that the mass be maintained at the i it that the heat absorbed by the reaction be supplied at or above the reaction tempera ture at all points where the reaction is talc ing place.

"int; ehemicalreaction's, and more parti'cu- Uneoii these conditions is that the bodies line H of Fig. l;

s ecification of LcttersPatent. Patentedfict. flit, 192th "Application illedhcptemhenw, I919. h'erial 1W0. tatfitti.

My invention has for its principal object to provide a process realizing the conditions above set forth, as well as others that will e in part obvious and in inafter; v

My invention and its aims and objects will be best understood from the following de part pointed out herescription of the best mode or manner known to me for practising my. improved process, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrhtive form ofupparw tus adapted for carrying out my process, the invention in its true scope being set forth by the appended claims. In the'figures:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one illustrative form of apparatus or means for practising my process;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the V apparatus shown in Fig. 1 thls manner I have .Fig. 3 is a top plan view: of the apparatus shown inl ig. 1;

Fig. 3 'is an elevation of one of the top electrodes and of the means of suspending the same;

Fig.4 is a horizontal cross-section on Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section on line 5-5 ofl ig. 1, certain parts being shown in elevation.

In practising" my process I prepare the charge of solid materials sons to insure an intimate; and so far as practicable, uniform contact between said solid materials and between the latter and thesgaseous body used in the reaction, throughout the entire charge;

To this end 1 preferably reduce the solid materials composing-the charge to a relatively finely conuninuted state, ifthey are not already in thatcondition, and thoroughly mixthem together; and with" the mixture thus obtained 1 also preferably thoroughly mix a suitable binder. While any suitable binding material may be used for this purpose, .ll'preierably use a material that will serve to bind the particles of the charge when it is heated. When the charge containsv carbon as a requisite and substantial portion thereof, a suitable binding material is tar or pitch. If pitch is used, it will preferably be reduced to substantially the same degree of fineness as the materials forming the charge. When the binder has been thoroughly intermixed with the materials of'the charge, the mixture thus obtained is heated. Most of the volatile comthermore, the distillation of the binder adds to the porosity of the charge, so that when subjected to the action of the gaseous body,

the whole mass of the charge will be permeated throughout by the latter, thus to insure intimate contact between the solid and gaseous bodies throughout the entire charge and that the reaction will take place in all parts thereof, In some cases it may be desirable to core the charge to facilitate the permeation of the latter by the as. I

The gas is now passed throug the charge permeating the latter in all its parts, so that the reaction takes place throughout the entire massj Heat may be applied to the charge in those cases in which it is necessary to the reaction or to further the latter. Heat may thus be applied by any suitable means and in any suitable manner,-but I preferably use electrical energy for this purpose, proceeding preferabl on the resistance principle of heating, t e charge forming a conducting path between suitable electrodes connected to any suitable electricity supply. The heat is thus developed with practical uniformity throughout the cross-section of the charge, a condition required for the maintenance of uniform temperature while performing the reaction. adjacent the charge for developing the heat, or even of arcs where the charge constitutes one terminal of the arc, has proven unsatisfactory, as the major portion of the heat is developed in the arc with the production of local high temperature at that point instead of uniform temperature throughout the entire charge. The same thing in a lesser degree applies to the development of the heat by means of resistors placed external to the charge. In that case the resistors must run at a higher temperature than is maintained within the charge, and the portions of the charge adjacent the resistors are heated to higher temperatures than those portions of the charge further removed from the resistors, with the result that, if the portions of the-charge adjacent the source of the heat are at the proper temperature for the reaction, those portions of the charge further removed from the source of heat are at too low a temperature for the reaction,

-or conversely, if the portions of the charge far removed from the source of the heat are The use of arcs current shall pass through the charge during the reaction.

Owing to the even distribution of the gas throughout the entire charge and the rela tively uniform structure of the latter, the electric current will be uniformly distributed throughout ,the entire charge when a strorggly endothermic reaction is proceeding an it is possible to supply electric energ to all parts of the charge as fast as it is alisorbed, thus securing a uniform and thorou h re action in all parts of the charge. he reaction once started, the gas having free access to the entire mass ofthe charge makes it possible to increase the amount of ener y applied, to supply the hcat required'by t e reaction without any further substantial rise of temperature so long as the reaction is progressin When t e reaction is com- .pleted, which will be indicated by a persistent rise in temperature from the temperature or range of temperature at which the desired reaction takes place, the electric current is cut off and the charge allowed to cool.

The materials used in carrying out certain reactions will not be naturally conductive and in such case I provide means for imparting to the charge the necessary conductivity. ThisI may do by any suitable means or in any suitable manner, as for example by mixing with'the charge any suitable substance possessing the required electrical conductivity. The materials used in certain reactions are non-conductive when cold or at the normal temperature of the atmos )here, but become conductive on being heate In such case I preheat the charge. This I may do in any suitable manner or by any suitable source of heat, but I preferably employ for this purpose an e lectrical resistor suitably disposed in relation to the charge so as to heat'the same 2'; uniformly as practicable throughoutthe entire mass, thus to insure that when the electric current for the production of the reaction is assed through the charge it shall be distributed through all parts thereof and that the reaction shall take place throughoutthe entire charge.

I will now describe more in detailthe best mode or manner now known to me for practising my novel process, in its application to the production of a specific substance, more leading to any ratcly so that each may essors;

particularly aluminum nitrid. 'Itis to be understood, however. that my process is not limited to the production of this substance, but that as to its general features and also as to certain oi its more specific features as Well, it is equally applicable to the produciron or other substances including other nitride.

Any suitable apparatus may be used to practise my process, but l preferably use a shaft luniacc, the Walls Qfof which may be either polygonal, circular, orsquare, These Walls may be of any suitable material, such as firebriclr. silica, niagncsite, bottonrwall l of the furnace of the same ma terial is provided with an annular space 6 which covered by a grate 8. A plurality of pipes 10 extend radially through the lat eral wall 2 of the furnace beneath the grate L3,their innercnds opening into the annular space 6 and their outer ends being connected with a common about the lower part of the furnace and in sell connected to a larger supply pipe ll suzlable source of supply ot nitrogen or nitrogen-containing gas. Herein six pipeslll are provided, but the number may vary according to the size ofthe fur nace. Through these pipes 10 the nitrogen or nitrogen-containing gas, to be used in the reactionyis introduced into the furnace.

Through the lateral Walls 2 of the furnace near the bottom of the latter-but above the grate 8.. there extend horizontally a plurality of electrodes 16 and above the furnace there are suspended in any suitable manner a plurality of vertically disposed electrodes 18. All of these electrodes Will preferably be oi carbon eight lower electrodes 16 and thirteen upper electrodes 18 being herein provided, but the number or: electrodes used will vary according to the size of the furnace used, it being preferable to use as many elec trodes as may be conveniently handled in order uniformly to distribute the current through the furnace. The upper electrodes 18 will preferably be disposed in a circle with one in the center, substantially as shown in Fig". 3, but any suitable arrangenient may be adopted. These upper electrodes will preferably be suspended sepabe raised and lowered independently of the others, as c'xeinplilied in the case of one electrode in l i 3, tor a purpose hereinafter more fully dcscribcd.

The lower electrodes 16 are supplied with current through suitable connections 20 located outside the furnace, and the upper electrodes ltl are supplied with current through the crmnectious 22. These connections 20 and are connected to the terminals, not shoivu, of an electric circuit supplied from any suitable source of elcctriciiy. l'llhile any suitable current either direct or alternating or bauxite brick. The

supply pipe 12 extending may be used, 1 preferably use an alternating current. supplied by a transformer, nol: shown, of any suitable construction, the pri mary circuit of which will preferably be provided with means for regulating; the voltage delivered by furnace.

Upon the grate 8 suitable electrically conductive material. in which the lower electrodes 16 are embedded'flll Within the furnace. For this purpose I may use granulated coke, the lower portion'fll or the layer being preferably of coarse coho and the upper portion 23 of said layer of rel atively line coke. y

1 Upon this layer of coho is supported;

within What may conveniently be called the" reaction chamber of the furnace, lhemiir lure or charge of solid materials that. are hot take part in thereection. For the produce tion of aluminum nitricl I prefer to: calcined bauxite. mixed with a. suitable pro portion of a reducing agent to WbicbWi-llf preferably be added a material whichjudll serve to bind the particles of the charge when it is heated. Instead oiibauxit'e an aluminous material could be used; such for example, as the aluminous residue non alanine alter extraction of the potash therefrom, or kaolin. or any clay of high alumina content. The amount of silica; containedin clays, however, makes them com-- inercially undesirable for use in the process; although it is possible to use then]. A. suitable b'indingniaterial is tar or pitch. lit pitch is used, it convenient to use it in a pulverized form and to mix it With the bauxite and reducing agent at the time those two materials are mixed, so that the Whole vgoes into the furnace as a dry mixture. Any suitable reducing agent may be used, but ll preferaloly use a carbonaceous material, such as coke or low-ash bituminous coal.

In order to facilitate the penetration of the nitrogen gas through the mixture and permit the necessary contact between the reagents, it is preferable to'reduce the inrredients of the charge to a relatively finely comminuted state. I have found thahjifthey are ground to a fineness which will enable about of the Whole charge to iass through a -mesh sieve, this will suilice. Alter grinding, the ingredients are thoroughly mixed in any suitableproporlion." l have found that a. satisfactory mixture Will consistottthe following proportions: 100 pounds of bauxite; 50 pounds of any low-ash bitun'iinous coal and 10 pounds of powdered pitch; but I do not limit myself to these exact proportions. ll prefer to use pitch instead of tar, as tar makes the mixture heavier and therefore" less permeable to gases. 1 alsoprelerahly make up the charge as ,a loose mixture,

Till the transformer to the without compressing it, thus minirnizing 13o l provide a layerol any i the density and gaining in permeability to gases. The degree of porosity of a charge, and of its consequent permeability to gases,

' is in inverse ratio to its Weight per unit to gases than any other form of known to me It is preferable to separate the charge from thefurnace wall during the reaction, or-keep it out of contact with the latter, in order among other things to insulate the charge from the walls of the furnace and reduce the loss of heat from the charge by radiation through the furnace walls. F urthermore, the charge herein used for the production of aluminum nitrid is electrically non-conductive when cold and must be heatedto be rendered conductive.

To the above ends I preferablyv interpose between the charge and the walls of the furnace a layer of any suitable material capable of withstanding the relatively high temperature to which the interior of the furnace is exposed during the reaction, and for this purpose I preferably select a substance that will be relatively conductive when cold, which will therefore act as a resistor when an electric current is passed through the ertain same, and thus heat the charge. carbonaceous substances give good results when used for this purpose. I have found that granulated coke, for exam le, is well suited for this purpose, and therefore preferably interpose between the charge 24 and the walls of the furnace a layer 26 of this material (see Fig. 2). In carrying out my invention, however, I may use any suitable substance or means for this purpose.

There the charge must be preheated in the furnace to render it self-sustaining, this surrounding layer 26 acts as a supporting means or envelop for the charge to support it until it becomes self-sustaining.

It will be apparent that, where the charge is made up of materials that render it electrically conductive when cold or at normal temperatures, the surrounding envelop 26 need not consist of electrically conductive material. Any. suitable material or other means that can withstand the high temperature during the reaction, and which is preferably heat-insulating. may be used.

As already stated. the charge rests upon the layer of granulated coke in which the lower electrodes are embedded, and with which the charge is therefore in electrical contact. To facilitate the introduction of the charge 2- and its surrounding envelop 26 without their becoming intermixed, I preferably use a cylindrical form 28 having a diameter somewhat less than the interior diameter of the furnace. This form is set up vertically, substantially axially with the furnace, thus leaving an annular space between it and the furnace walls. This annular space will vary somewhat in thickness according to the diameter of the furnace; in a furnace having an interior diameter of seven feet the cylindrical form may be approximately five feet in diameter, thus leaving an annular space of approximately one foot in thickness between it and the outer walls of the furnace.

The interior of the form is now filled in with the charge, and the annular space with -the granulated coke or other material that is to constitute the supporting envelop. This form may be made of any suitable material, such as cardboard for example, in which case it will be consumed durin the operation if left in; or it may be with rawn as the charge and envelop are filled in upon each side thereof, as, when the envelop and charge are once in place, they have no fur ther tendency to mingle.

The furnace is thus filled with the charge on the inside of the form and granulated coke on the outside to the level of the top of the form. Above the top of the form is added a layer of electrically conductive material 30, granulated coke for exam le, like the layers 21, 23, in which are embe (led the lower ends of the carbon electrodes 18.

T-hetop coke layer '30 may, if desired, be confined to the space within the form, the envelop material running to the top of said coke layer.

This envelop 26 may be allowed to remain in place during the reaction, but I have found it' advisable, where a self-sustainin charge is used, to withdraw said envelop after the charge has been heated sufiiciently to render it electrically conductive and selfsustaining, and preferably before the reaction begins.

The envelop being directly in contact with the brick walls in the, furnace, causes them to become considerably hotter from the inside than otherwise would 'be the case, and at the temperatures necessary for the reaction the walls of the furnace, which as already stated are usually of fire-brick, silica, magnesite, bauxite, or the like, are thus damaged, both by fusion of portions of the interior wall and by chemical attack by the carbon on the oxids of which these refractories are composed. -Furthermore, at the temperature it is necessary to maintain within the furnace during the reaction, the interiors of the walls reach a temperature at which they themselves become conductors of the electric current. The result of this is that a portion of the current leaks wastefully through the interior surface of the walls from the top coke layer to the bottom, which teasers both wastes energy and contributes to the damage of the walls. These three sources of damage to the walls 'cause them to have a comparatively short life, so that they must be frequently rcnewednind this renewal is amaterial source of expense. lVhile, therefore,

it is entirely practicable to secure satisfactory results, as far as the reaction is con cerned. withoutremoving the envelop, tor the reasons. above given'it is preiterable to remove the envelop before the reaction begins. I l

Any suitable means or arrangement may be adopted for removing the envelop. As one very satisfactory means for that purpose I have herein provided the Walls of the furnace with a plurality of small openings 32 at about the level of the bottom of the charge. These openings are normally closed by firebrick, and after the charge has been suficiently heated to render it electrically conduct-ire and self-sustaining, thesefire-brick closures can be removed one at a time and the envelop allowed'to run out, in which 1t may be assisted by polnng, it necessary. lhe

openings are then closed again with firebrick to exclude the entrance of air. After the envelop has been removed the charge,

now self-sustaining,

chamber entirely out of contact with the furnace walls, and separatedtheretrom by the spacepreviously occupied by theenvelop. This space being filled by the gases in the furnace, the charge is electrically and thermally isolated from'the walls by the gaseous layerthus tormedaround it. v

The current, entering the coke layer resting on top of the charge through the top electrodes, can therefore only reach the bot-- tom coke layer by passing through thecharge itself, and can no longer pass downward through the wallsrbecause there isno i iswithdrawn from around thecharge, it is electrical contacts'with the walls at the top.

When the carbonaceous envelop is allowed to remain in place during the reaction, it is possible to operate the furnace with an open top, a's-the charge is then protected on all sides by a carbonaceous shield which prevents air from filtering into it and oxidizing it. If, however, the carbonaceous envelop necessary to closethe' furnace at the top. Suitable means is provided in accordance w th the present invention for that purpose,

said means being herein exemplified by a re duc ing a circulation'ofwater through the cover from any suitable Water supply, many movabl cover 3%. This coverwill preferably be ofoast iron or steel, provided with double walls and intermediate chambers for the circulation of Water to cool the cover. Anysuitableprovision maybe made for prosuch means bein Well known and therefore not requiring :l urther description herein.

. opening.

remains isolated or de-' tacl1ed,"that is it stands up 1n the reaction] is excluded from entering the the upper edge of the furnace walls, and. be

tween said flanges the inner wall of tlielcoyer will preferably be provided with a lining 38.. of any suitable refractory material The cover will be provided with suitable open ings at) through which the top electrodes entend downwardly into the furnace, threeot, said openings being shown in Fig. 2, with the central upper electrode in place in itsflrt'i The illustrative furnace herein shownlis, charged from the top, which requires that the cover be removed for that purpose. This may be 'eilected by any suitable hoistinged means, and to this end the cover may he I, provided with eye-bolts l2 adapted to be one, gaged by the hoisting tackle.- The cover may thusbe readily raised to, enable the furnace to be charged, ortorany other purpose, and then relowered into placev I to close the furnace when thelatter has been. charged. .1 The openings throughwhich the upper,

electrodes pass, will preferably be only large the gases being blown into the furnace at, the bottom, together with those generatedjt duringthe reaction. By this means the air I furnace atfy the top and oxidizingthe charge. p, it j In order to tacilitateand expedite the reaction it is sometimes desirable to core a gas passage or gas passages through the charge nthe furnace, so that the nitrogen-can more readily permeate the whole charge. This; Y 1 may be efi'ected in any suitable manner or 3 by any suitable means, as by setting up tubes I or rods at of any suitable material Within. the form 28,'before the "charge is introduced, 195 and filling the latter i i around the tubesdd, which should be suitably spaced. apart, about 12, inches, for example. These tubes or rods may be made of paper, wood, or any other suitable material, and cl any shape in crosssection. (Jr said tubes may be made of thin sheet steel orother suitable metal, or elec trically conductive material. in this case their upper ends Will be embedded in the upper layer of conductive material 30, and their. lower ends in the lower layer of conductive material 23, so that they may serve not only'to core passages through the charge, but also to act as resistors for a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth.

i The furnace walls will preferably be'provided with a plurality of sight-tube holes i6,

placed at difterent heights and in different angular positions around. the. furnace. in,

i the furnace shown, there are four Vertical of the interior may be read at any time by either the insertion of a thermo-couple or the use of an optical pyrometer, the choice at any time. After the furnace has been charged as above described, current is thrown on from the transformer. As above stated, the

charge of bauxite, coal and pitch, used in.

the present illustrative instance, does not conduct when it is cold, but the top layer vof coke 30, the lower .layer of coke 21, 23,

and the annular envelop of coke 26-connecting these upper and lower. la ers, dof

conduct, so that the circuit is comp eted between the upper and lower electrodes by the continuous path of coke thus formed. The first effect of turning on the current is there fore to develop heat in the coke forming the top and'bottom coke layers 30 and 21, 23' and the annular coke envelop 26 surrounding the charge, and in case metal tubes are used, in the walls ofthese metal tubes which also connect the top and bottom coke layers. The first effect of the application of the current is therefore to su ply heat to the furnace from the walls 0 the tubes and from the coke envelop, and as the temperature of these parts can be raised to any desired extent, the preliminary heating of the charge is thus effected by heat conducted into it from the points where it is generated. This heating will preferably be effected relatively slowly and may occupy a period of from,

five to six hours ina furnace of the size above referred to, the primary object being the -melting and distillation of the pitch which has been added to the charge to serve as ,a binder, and the distillation of the coal usedin the charge.

By the timethe temperature of the charge has thus been raised to about 700 C., most of the volatile components of. the pitch and coal will have been driven off, and the fixed carbon remaining from this distillation binds the particles of the charge to each other so that the Whole mass of the charge is self-sustaining and needs no further support, either from the outside coke layer or I rom the tubes in order to retain its form.

About this time, therefore, the coke envelop will be withdrawn, as above described,

through the openings provided for that pur-.

pose, and thesereclosed. Approximately at this point the charge itself begins to conduct th current so that during the subse, quent oiieration the'charge itself serves to establish the circuit between "the top and bottom coke layers.

If wood or paper coring tubes are used, the heating throughout the mass to distil the volatile products requires a longer time up through" the charge.

.mina in the charge to nitrid.

than if metal coring tubes are used, as in the former case the heat necessary to the preliminary baking of the charge all comes from the surrounding envelop and from the top and bottom coke layers, while, if metal tubes are used, these also contribute to the heating of the charge from within the latter.

If coring tubes of wood or paper have been used, during the heating throughout the mass these will begin to distil and decompose before the baking of the charge is completed, but it is found that the charcoal resulting from the use of such tubes holds the position it occupied in the original tube and furnishes a sufiicient barrier to prevent the charge fromfalling into and stop ing up the core-holes. After the baking 0 the charge to a self-sustaining mass is comtemperature is reached, Before this temperature is reached the nitrogen will be turned on, so that it may penetrate and pass 11 so doing it becomes heated in passing through the. coke layers 21, 23, and this contributes to heating the charge. The reaction begins and proceeds very slowly at a temperature of about 1400 0., but its speed-rapidl increases as the temperature rises above t at point and it proceeds with a rapidity suflicient to make the process commercial at temperatures between 1600 and 1700 C; The rapidity of the reaction increases very rapidly with a rise in the temperature above 1650 C. The conductivity of the charge also increases ver greatly with the rising temperature and at the reaction temperatures actually used, the envelop havin been withdrawn, all of the current in tie -furnace passes through the charge and develops the heat where it is required to supply that which is absorbed by the reaction, which latter is highly endothermic.

After the charge is brought to thereaction temperature, it is necessary to continue to supply it with energy until enough energy in excess of that lost by convection, conduction, and radiation has been supplied to it, to convert the major portion of the alu- After this amount of energy has been supplied, any further input of energy ceases to be useful and will result in a further rise of temperature in the charge which, if continued, will destroy the nitrid already formed. During the progress of the reaction, which in a. seven-foot furnace may take from about five to seven hours, the rise of temperature is arrested by the fact that the energy supplied is absorbed by the reaction' and disappears as heat. ;I n practice, it is found that, while the reaction is going on, the charge is automatically retained at a tem-' perature the neighborhood vf 1700 C.;

rename I yl "unless energy'is supplied to the charge faster 'than it can be a eorbed bgz the reaction, which should not be done orgood operation. Whenthe temperature rises to the neighborhood of 1900 (1', the supply of current will be discontinued, as this rise in temperature is indicative of the completion of the reaction, and because also above this temperature very rapid volatilisation ofalumina takes place and decomposition of the nitrid formed begins,

if charcoal-forming coring tubes have been used, the charcoal may or may not re main in place, buti'f it it will .dono harm because the charcoal is sufiiciently permeable to the gas not to interfere with the entrance, nor with the penetration of the charge by thc'nitrogen.

After the current is turned off, the supply of nitrogen Will preferably be continued,.as the reaction will not stop when current is turned oh, if there is an ..unccnyerted alumina Sillll remaining in t e. chargabut will continue until thetemperaturefofthe charge falls to a.

nitrogen after the current is turned off also.

serves to prevent the diffusion of air through the charge, Which diffusion might have the effect of oridizinghoine oi. the aluminum nitrid already formed. It also helps to cool the charge.

-. While pure nitrogen could be used in the reaction, this would be expensive, and the use of pure nitrogen is not necessary. An atmosphere consisting of approximately 95 to 98% nitrogen With-some carbon dioxid, somecarbon monoxid, and a small quantity of free oxygen can be cheaply made and supplied. This gas is found to be entirely suitable. @rdinary producer gas can also be used. to good advantage, but its high carbon dioxid and carbon monoxid content make it less desirable than an atmosphere richer in nitrogen. Any carbon dioxid pres ent in the gas is reduced to carbon monoxid by the carbon'of the colre in the bottom of the furnace and by the carbon in the charge,

but as this conversion is an endotheiniicrcaction, it takes place at the expe'nseof' electrical energy, and for thls reason it 1s desirable that the carbon dioxid content of the gas used shallbe/as low as practicable. Any oxygen in the gas turns to carbon dioxid with the carbon at the bottom of the furnace, and afterward is reduced to carbon" IIlOllOXld at the expense of clectrlcal energy. .While the presence of carbon monoxi d to a reasonable'aroount does not interfere serilib point inthe neighborhood of MQO l3. ll'ontinuerl introduction of the 'this has been found to he electrode on the coke which it enters. electrical resistance of'a lease of loose coke s very greatly reduced by increasing; the

proportion ofthat gas to the nitrogen content of the atmosphereused rises to a deleterious point sooner than when gas having; a Very high nitrogen content or a low carbon nionoxid content is used. For this reason a much greater volume of producer gas is re quired by the furnace than would be requircd if pure or nearly pure nitrogen were used.

ln starting? a furnace of the character dc scribed, particularly if it be a large one, certain. precautions are found to desirable in practice. Carbon or coho has a much. higher electrical resistance when cold than when hot; consequently, when the current is first applied, if any portion of the envelop happens to be of less'resistanc [than the balance thereof, more current passes through that portion than throughthe portions of higher resistance andheatingjproceeds more rapidly at that point than at the other points; its the temperature in these .zones of less resistance rises, the resistance tends to diminish still more and the quan tity of current admitted therefore becomes still greater, so that the effect is cumulative. The tendency is therefore for the envelop to heat up at one point faster than at other points, and this effect is also cun'mlat- For this reason it is desirable that the in l heating shall proceed slowly so that no point in the furnace shall be supplied with energy more rapidly than it can be conducted to the neighboringcolder portions to equalize tempc atoms. The uniform heatingof the euv'elop can be facilitated by various means. In practice, it has been found that this may be accomplished for example by. dividing the coke layer at the top'of the furnace into sections, electrically insulated from each other, and each one supplied with current by a separate electrode. Clhis .sectionalizing can be readily effected by any suitable means, as by dividing the top coke layer into sectors by boards or partitions. entire annular envelop may also be divided in this Way sons to confine the current to the sector in which it starts, but in practice 4 nieccssary. The amount of current entering any sector can be controlled in any one of several Ways, as will be clear to those skilled in the art, for example by a ulariablereactance or i sistance in the circuit of each electrode,-but

preferably by varyinwthe pressure of the The contact pressure on it, and in practice it has been found desirable, as already stated, to

suspend the electrodes separately, with means to raise or lower them independently, so as to be able to increase or decrease the intimacy of contact between the individual electrodes and. the coke.

The

, amount of current it carries. In practice,

Thus, if it is found in starting that one electrode is carrying more current than the others, this current can be decreased by slightly raising the electrode, and conversely, any electrode which is carrying too little current can be lowered to raise the the electrodes )vill preferably be thus adjusted separately until all conductabout the same amount of current,-after which the supply of current may be regulated as a whole, '.to keep it at the right amount. The voltage and amperage required for the reaction will vary. In a furnace having a reaction chamber of a diameter of seven feet,

' for example, from 40 to 120 volts, and 10000 to-20000 amperes will be required, according to the height of the charge. After the nitrification' of the charge is complete, it is permitted to remain in the furnace while it cools, to prevent its oxidation by the oxygen of the air. After the temperature of the charge has fallen to a poiiit below 800 *to 900 C., this oxidation of the nitrid in the charge Willfno longer take place and the finished charge can then be removed from the'furnac'ein any suitable manner and by any suitable means. v

From what has been said withregard to the liability of the charge oxidizing atthe reaction .temperature,.should oxygen be addry, powdered form, as above described, or

sob

it may be previously mixed with the tar or pitch at a temperature high enough to render the binding material thoroughly fluid and put into the furnace in a plastic or semiplastic -condition. It will also be apparent that the charge could be l eated,-in a suitable formflfor" example, to render it self-su stainingbefore placing it inthe furnace, and the coring, if used, may also be effected before the charge is placed in the furnace.

From the above description those skilled in the art will readily recognize the advantages possessed by my invention;

Thus, uniform heating of the charge and consequent uniform electrical. conductivity throughout all parts of the latter is assured y my invention so long asan endothermic rcactionls proceeding, on condition that the materials" for the reaction be eve here presentin the charge in quantities an under conditions to enable the reaction to r'oceed freely in all parts of the charge. '5 condition my invention fulfils owing to the intimate and substantially uniform intermixture of the ingredients of the charge through uniform contact is assured between the solid and gaseous'bodies used in the reaction, throughout the entire mass of the charge, and fresh gas can always permeate any and all parts of the latter to take the place of that absorbed by the reaction. The heat necessary for the reaction will thus be developed throughout the entire charge wherever it is required and in suitable quantity continuously to supply that absorbed by the reaction.

So far as racticable, uniform heating of the charge tiroughout is thus assured and overheating thereof durin the reaction is precluded provided that ticrate of input of electrical energy is kept within certain limits, readily determined by experiment; this rate being substantially equal to the sum of the heat absorbed by the reaction, plus the unavoidable heat losses, the temperature being thus maintained within the desired limits. Where the charge is not substantially uniformly heated, the electric current owing to the greater conductivity of the hotter portions of the charge, is liable to concentrate at said hotter portions. The temperature of the hotter portions of the charge is thus liable to rise to the fusion point of the mixture, the resulting fused masses cutting off the supply of gas from adjacent arts of the charge, thus materially curtailing if not wholly preventing the reaction at those parts. The uniform heating of the charge in accordance with my invention precludes this and insures that the reaction will take place practically uniformly in all parts of the charge, thus insuring a very high production of the product which it is sought to obtain.

Other advantages secured by my invention in addition to those herein specifically pointed out will appear to those skilletl in the art.

Obviously, this invention is not limited to the specific details of procedure described above for illustration, nor is it limited in its application to any particular apparatus or means for practising the same, although the process embodying the inventionis especially well adapted to be practised by the apparatus and means herein described. It is to be understood, further, that it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be employed in a single process, since the features of the invention may be used to advantage separately, as defined in the sub joined claims.

The apparatus herein disclosed is claimed iii-my companion application of even date,

ill

incense Serial No. 324,765 and broad claims to subbetween solid and gaseous bodies, which action.

prises heating a c comprises passing an electric current through a charge comprlsing a mixture of the solid materials to take part in the reaction, to

generate throughout said charge the heat necessary for the reaction; charge with a gaseous body to take part in the reaction; and insulating the charge during the reaction by a gaseous layer.

3. A proiless involving chemical reactions between. solid and aseous bodies, which corn rge torender it electri- 'cally conductive hysuitable heat-communicating means adjacentsaid charge, the latter containing the solid materials to take part inthe reaction and being electrically nonconductive until heated; removing said heating means after the charge has thus permeating the been rendered electrically conductive; per

meeting the charge with the gaseous body to take part inthe reaction;'and passing an electric current through said charge to generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction. p t

l. A process involving chemicalreactions, Which comprises passing an electric current through a charge to generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction;

and insulating the charge during the re- 5. A process involving chemical which comprises heating a charge to render it electrically conductive; passing a current of electricity through the charge to generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and insulating the charge during the reaction. v

'6. A. process involving chemical reactions between solid and gaseous bodies, which comprises heating a charge to render it electrically conductive and self-sustaining by suitable heat-communionting and chargesustaining means adjacent said charge; removing said heating and charge-sustaining means after the charge has thus been rendered electrically conductive and self-sue taining; permeating the charge Witlrthe gaseous body to take part in said reaction; and passing an electric currentthrough the charge to render it electrical 1 mg charge to generate the heat necessary for reactions,

prising a suitable proportion of nousmaterial, asuitahle proportion ot carllli self-sustaining charge to generate ray-1 through out the latter the heat necessary for the ,7

action.

7 A process for making aluminum nitrid,.f

i in suitable prd. render said charge electrically; permeating the charge with i til charge to generate the reaction and insulating said charge during the reaction.

which comprises electricall passing a current of electricity through th charge to generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction; and insulating the charge during the reaction.

8. A process involving chemical reactionrg i 9. A; process involving chemical reactions,

which comprisesheating a charge to render it electrically conductive, hy heat-commonl eating means adjacent the charg IGI1'JQUV- ing said'means when the charge has become electrically conductive; and passing an electriccurrent through the charge. throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction.

. 10. A process involving chemical reactions between solid and gaseous bodies, which comprises heatinga charge comprising a suitable proportion of a binder rendered et fective by heat to bind the particles ot'the charge together, by heat-communicating and charge sustaining means adjacent said charge to render the latter self-sustaining; removing said means after the charge has thus been rendered self-sustaining. pen meeting the char e with the gaseous hotlyto take part in tie reaction; and an electric current through the sell-sustains throughout the latter the reaction. a

11. A process for. making aluminum. ni-- trid, which comprises heating a charge coinan alumihonaceous reducing material, and a suitable proportion of an appropriate hinder rendered ellcctive by heat to bind the par ticles oi the cl'i'argei'together, by suitable heat-communicating and. charge-sustaining means adjacent said charge to render the charge electrically conductive and self-- sustaining; removing said heating and charge-sustaining means after the charge hols thus been rendered electrically conductive and self-sustaining; charge with a nitrogen-containing -gas; and passing an electric current through said charge to generate throughout said charge the heat necessary for the reaction.

12.. A process involving chemlcal reac passing permeating the to generate wil tit

tittt the charge has become self-sustainin andpassing a current of electricity th rbugh the charge to generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction.

14. A process involving chemical reac- 'tions,-Which comprises sustaining a charge by an electrical resist-or; passing an electric current through said resistor to heat the charge and render it electrically conductive and self-sustaining; removing the resistor when the charge has become electrically conductive and self-sustaining; and passing an electric current through the charge to generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction.

15. A process for making aluminum nitrid, which eomprisesheatinga charge comprising a suitable proportion of an aluminous material, a. suitable proportion of coke or coal and a suitable proportion of an appropriate binder, rendered effective by heat to bind the particles of the charge together, by suitable heat-communicating and chargesustaining means adjacent said charge, to render the charge electrically conductive and self-sustaining; removing said heating and charge-sustaining means after thc'charge has thus been rendered electrically conductive and self-sustaining; permeating the charge with a nitrogen-containing gas; and passing an electric current through said charge to generate throughout said charge the heat necessary for the reaction 16. A process for making aluminum nitrid, which comprises heating a charge comprising a suitable proportion of an aluminous material,,a suitable proportion of carbonaceous reducing material and a suitable ,proportion of an appropriate binder rendered effective by heat to bind the particles of the charge together, by passing an electric current through electrically conductive means surrounding and sustaining said charge to render said charge electrically conductive and self-sustaining; removing said electrically conductive means after the charge has thus beenrendered. electrically conductive and'selt-sustaining; permeating the charge with a nitrogen-containing gas; and passing an electric current through said charge to generate current charge-sustaining throughout said charge the heat necessary for the reaction.

17. A process for making aluminum nitrid, which comprises heating a charge comprising a suitable proportion of an aluminous material, a suitable proportion of carbonaceous reducing material and a suitable proportion of an appropriate binder rendered effective by heat to bind the particles of the charge together, by passing an electric through electrically conductive means surrounding and sustaining said charge and Within the latter, to render said charge electrically conductive and self-sustaining; removing said electrically conductive charge-sustaining means surrounding said charge after the charge has thus been rendered electrically conductive and selfsustaining; permeating the charge with a niitrogeircontaining gas; and passing an electric current through said charge to generate throughout said charge the heat necessary for the reaction.

18. A process for making aiuminum nitrid, Which comprises heating a charge comprising a suitable proportion of: an aluminous material, a suitable proportion of carbonaceous reducing material and a suitable proportion of an appropriate binder, to render said charge electrically conductive and Self-sustaining, by passin an electric current through-a layer 0 electrically conductive and charge-sustaining material interposed between the Wall of the reaction chamber and said charge; removing said layer of electrically conductive material to insulate the charge from the walls of said apparatus; permeating the charge with a nitrogen-containing gas; and passing an electric current through said charge to generate throughout the latter the heat necessary for the reaction.

19. A process for making aluminum nifrid, which comprises heating a charge comprising a suitable proportion of an aluminous material, a suitable proportion of car'- bonaceous reducing material and a suitable proportion of an appropriate binder, to render said charge electrically conductive and self-sustaining, by suitable heat-communieating and charge-sustaining means adjacent sa d charge; removing said'heatrng and charge-sustaining means after the char c has thus been rendered electrically con uctive I and self-sustaining; and passing an electric current through said charge to generatethroughout said charge the heat necessary 'for the reaction, while permeating the charge with a nitrogen-containing gas, the reaction being conducted in areducing atmosphere.

'20. A process for making aluminum nitrid, Which comprises heating a charge comprising a suitable proportion of an alumi-' nous material, a suitable proportion of carmeat-we honeceoue reducing material and a suitable proportion of an appropriate binder, to render said charge electrically conductive and sclf-sustaining, by passing an electric current through electrically conductive means surrounding and sustaining said charge; removing said electrically conductive chargesustaining means, after the charge has thus been rendered electrically conductive and self-sustaining; and passing an electric cur rent through said charge to generate throughout said charge the heat necessary for the reaction, While permeating the charge With a nitrogenhontaining gas, the reaction being conducted in a reducing atmosphere.

21. A process involving chemical reactions with a characterized by forming seliieuetaining pervious conductive body of the solid materials to take part in the reaction, heating the body by electrical conduction hile insulated by an open gas-receiving space and permeating it with the gas to take part in the reaction.

22. A process for producing aluminum nitrid characterized by forming a self-sustainin pervious body of a mixture of aluminum bearing and carbonaceous materials heating said body by electrical conduction While insulated by an open gas-receiving space and permeating it during heating with nitrogenous gas.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM HOOPES. 

